Speculation has been ongoing for weeks about DeWalt’s impending “World’s First” announcement that they’ve been teasing and today was the day the announcement was made. In an effort to give cordless tools the same power of corded, the tool giant announced the release of 20V/60V flexible voltage batteries and a new line of cordless 60V and 120V tools. The best part? The new ultra-powerful batteries are compatible with your favorite 20V tools that you already own.

FLEXVOLT, touted by DeWalt as the “World’s first battery that automatically changes voltage when you change tools,” will bring unprecedented power to cordless tools, especially workhorse tools like miter saws and circular saws. Perhaps most importantly, two 60-volt batteries ($149 to $199 on Amazon) can be used in tandem to extend the life and the power of the batteries. This system will be used in 120V tools, the first of which to be released is the 120V cordless/corded miter saw. The exciting new line of tools includes:

All tools will incorporate the brushless motor technology that has made many tools so much more efficient in recent years. With the brushless motor technology combined with the new batteries and FLEXVOLT accessories that were also announced today, you can expect up to twice the run time vs. standard DeWalt tools. The accessories that DeWalt will release so far include circular saw blades engineered for low vibration, reciprocating saw blades with a finish that helps to reduce heat, and a self-feed pilot bit for faster cuts.

DeWalt had Twitter abuzz today due to the major announcement, which was in conjunction with the DeWalt media day. Several other tools and accessories were announced as well, like this new DeWalt Toughbox for safe jobsite storage.

For many construction superintendents and project managers across the world, tablets are becoming one of the most important tools on the job site. They’re great for looking at plans, taking pictures, making notes, and running your favorite construction apps. Carrying a tablet does take up at least one of your hands, however, so it can be a hindrance if you need to help a co-worker lift material or climb a ladder.

Tape measure, wheel measure, and laser measures are all great tools for their own situations, but why isn’t there one that can do all three of those jobs? That doesn’t have to be a question anymore, because there’s a new smart measure hitting the market that can do it all.

Why should Luke Skywalker and the gang get to have all the fun with lightsabers? The time has finally come for grown men and women to show how much of a true fan of the Star Wars Empire they with a set of 3 lightsaber screwdrivers. Sure, they might not be as comfortable and rugged as our favorite traditional tool manufacturer’s versions are, but, I ask you this: can you current screwdrivers strike fear into the dark side?

The best part of any construction job is making a mess. The worst part is cleaning up. With all the talk of robots entering the job site and doing all the fun stuff for us, why in the world have we not been pouring money into robots that will clean for us?! Makita may have answered our prayers, as Makita Japan has released an automated robotic vacuum that can handle the odd materials in your workshop or job site.

Accidents happen when you least expect them and many times they’re caused by tools and equipment you use every day on the job. All it takes is a split second before disaster can strike, so every one of them counts. That’s where technology can step in and prevent major injuries before they happen and that’s exactly what Bosch is hoping to accomplish with the pending release of their new flesh detecting table saw.

Steel workers have one of the most dangerous jobs on a construction site and, while safety has significantly improved in the past few decades, it often comes with a productivity decrease or cost increase. Depending on the job site, the use of ladders or lifts could be a safety hazard itself.

iPin is releasing a new product that will use your phone's headphone jack as an accessory port. The product will allow your phone to become a full-on laser measuring device. The iPin Spatial Ruler allows the user to measure the length between any two points in a shared photo, or the distance from your phone to some far away point.

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